Removable button member



1953 H. s. VAN BUREN, JR ,8 2

REMOVABLE. BUTTON MEMBER Filed July 13, 1950 -\NVENTORZ HAROLD S. VANBUREN JR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 18, v 1953 signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation,Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 13,1950, Serial No. 173,552

2 Claims. 24-109) My invention aims to provide improvements in Iremovable buttons for closures. Such buttons are easily and quicklyattachable to and detachable from garments and other articles and areparticularly useful when such buttons are not of a construction thatpermits laundering or cleansing and also when it is desirable tosubstitute one set of buttons for another set for reason of color ordesign. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a button that may be applied orattached by either the manufacturer or the purchaser of an article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved removablebutton construction for attachment to a mounting structure which may besecured by known hand or automatic tools and methods to an article.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable buttonhaving an improved shank construction that is simple and at the sametime easily and economically manufactured.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedshank structure for removable buttons, which structure is adapted toreceive button head members of various materials, designs and colors andisat the same time simple of construction and easy and economical tomanufacture. "Other aspects and further objects of the invention will beapparent from the description of the invention which follows.

Referring now to the embodiments of the invention illustrated by theaccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an installation showing one embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form of socket member which may be usedwith the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the butto of the invention takenalong line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the button taken along line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom elevation of the button structure of the invention;and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the invention as illustrated by the drawings, I haveshown an improved removable button construction for use with attachingsocket devices similar to those shown in my patent applications SerialNo. 47,432, filed September 2, 1948, and Serial No. 47,431, filedSeptember 2, 1948.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a remov- 2 v able button devicefor use with articles of manufacture requiring a'button and buttonholetype of closure. Only a portion of the closure is illustrated and itincludes a closing portion In having a buttonhole l2 and a supportingportion l4 carrying the button attaching socket device Hi and theremovable button I8.

The button attaching socket device It comprises a casing 20 with whichis assembled a disc 22 and an anvil member 24 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.This device is attached to the supporting portion by a pronged attachingpart 26 (Figs. 3 and 4). The assembly maybe made by an automaticattaching machine or hand tools suitable for attaching snap fasteners bya'hammer;

My improved-removable button [8, as shown, includes a cover member 3|and a one-piece mounting member of special design to be more fullydescribed hereafter. The cover member which may include ornamentaldesigns is assem bled to the back and shank by clinching its edgesaround the peripheral edges of the mounting member. The cover member mayalso consist of an-ornamental disc 50, insert, or insert assembly of anysuitable ornamental material, or mate rials, such as pearl, leather,glass, plastic, mother of pearl, wood, or the like, secured to themounting member 32 by a ring 52 clinched over the insert 50 and theperiphery of the back and shank member 32. I The mounting member 32 isformed from a single piece of sheet metal, to provide an outerperipheral portion 34 in one plane and a centrally disposed shankportion 36. The shank portion 36 includes an elongated tongue portion 31of arcuatecross-section centrally disposed with respect to theperipheral portion 34, spaced from the plane thereof, and connectedthereto by web portions 38, 39 extending from the sides of the tongueportion 31 to sp'aced points 40,1 and 42, 43 respectively on theperipheral portion. The web portions 38, 39 adjacent the tongue portion31 may have an arcuate cross-section to provide rigidity and to form thebody of the shank portion 36. The tongue portion 31 provides oppositelyextending arms 44, 45 on the end of the shank opposite the peripheralportion 34.

The web portions 38, 39 are preferably substantially T-shaped with eachhaving a portion extending from the side of the tongue portion 31 andthe ends of the other portions connected to peripheral portion 34 at thespaced points 40,

4| and 42, 43, respectively. Such construction provides apertures 53 and54 bounded by the web portions and the peripheral portion and results ina substantially stronger shank portion particularly in the regionadjacent the tongue portion. This stronger shank is secured in thedrawing and forming of the back and shank member since the constructionpermits more of the web material to be drawn toward the tongue portion'ifl'into (the, shank 3G.

The arms '44, 45 are adapted to enter an aperture 2! in the face of thecasing 20 and be rtated under bumps 21, 28 against the disc 22 and stopin contact with contact portions, 2.9,. .3:0, which extend from thecasing 2!! to the disc 22. The removable button is thusheldinattachedposition and is prevented from accidenta'lirota tion by the bumps.forced under the bumps 2?, 28, the casing 20 and When the arms M; 45are.

the disc 2| may yield in a sort of aspringaction e The arcuatecross-section of the tongue portion 31 reduces friction between it andthe casing and disc and provides reinforcement thereof against bendingand distortion. The a-rcuate construe-.- tion also permits cainming ofthe "bumps 21, .28 on the arms 44, 45,. The contact portionsi 39 areprovided ior stops and to provide means for holding the casing 29 andthe disc 22 apart to prevent collapsing of the front face which wouldprevent the engagement and the disengagement of the arms 44. 4.5 on theshank with the button atta hing socket t6.

It will thus appear that my removable button structure may be used witha button attaching socket member which may be easily attached to clath,pap.er, leather or the like by hand tools or a bammersince-it is easy toforce the prongs of the pronged ring through such material. my devicemay be used by the home dressmaker on'new or oldbuttonhole garments withease. Since the buttons may be easily removed and replaced forlaundering or cleansing purposes or for changing the design or color,the advantages are apparent.

it should also be understood that my invention is also useful to garmentand like manufacturers since it provides a more useful garment and sincethe attaching device may be easily applied by automatic machines. Thesale of garments may be aided by the fact that several styles and colorsof buttons may be sold with the original garment. I

My removable buttons are simple in construction, easy to attach, andvery readily operable. Thecover member may be of metal, plastic, orothermaterials of various colors and ornamental designs. Furthermore,the mounting memher-may be attached to many different types of buttoncovers or caps or ornamental inserts by the use of of a clinching ringor other means. Once the buttons are installed they may be easily andquickly removed and replaced, or substitutions made by simplerotaryaction. Furthermore, the button attaching parts will withstand normaldry cleansing and laundering processes because they are constructed withthis in mind.

Thus, a

Having now described and illustrated several forms of my invention, IWish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to thespecific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown,except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

, Icla'im: j

l. A removable button structure comprising a drawn sheet metal part ofdished shape having acentral portion, sloping sides extending angularlytherefrom, and a peripheral rim portion spacedfrom said central portion,said peripheral rim portion being suitable for being secured to anornamental button element, said sides sloping-inwardly from said rimportion and having a curved transverse cross-section, said cenand rimportions and said sides having marginal edges defining opposingapertures in said sidesf-said central portion being disposed in a planespaced from said rim portion and including tongues at theopposite endsextending over said apertures and beyond the marginal edges of saidsides, and providing 'a substantially smooth bar for cooperativeengagement in. a socket member having, opposed spaced plates, one ofwhich. having a keyhole type aperture for :re-. ceiving said bar whenoriented in one direction with respect thereto and for retainingit "whenoriented in other directions. i 2. A removable button for garmentclosures and the like for use with a cooperating socket structure,saidbuttonv comprising a drawn sheet metal part of dished shape having acentral portion, sloping sides extending angularly therefrom, and aperipheral rim portion spacedfrom said central portion and button meanssecured to said peripheral rim portion, said sides sloping inwardly fromsaid-rim portion and having a curved transverse cross-section, saidcentral and rim portions and said sides having marginal edges definingopposing "apertures in said sides, said central portion being disposedin a plane spaced from said rim portion and including tongues at theopposite ends extending over said apertures and beyond the marginaledges of said sides 'anclproviding a .substantiallysmooth bar forcooperative engagement in a socket member having opposed spaced plates,one of Which-having a; keyhole type aperture for receiving said bar whenoriented in one direction with respect thereto and for retaining it whenoriented in otherdirections. V v

v v HAROLD S. VAN BUREN, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Great Britain 4;; July 7, 1941

